Choker



6, 1966 M. L. LAHARTY 3,289,259

CHOKER Filed Oct. 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Milo L. Laharfy l N VEN TORDec. 1966 M. 1.. LAHARTY 3,289,259

CHOKER Filed Oct. 13, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Milo L Laharfy ZNVENTOR,

United States Patent Office atented 3,289,259 CHOKER Milo L. Laharty,Rte. 4, Box 3311!, Roseburg, Greg. Filed Oct. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 495,4086 Claims. (Cl. 24--123) This invention relates generally to choker hooksfor use in logging and more particularly to a novel improved choker hookdesign of the general type described in US. Patent No. 2,828,156 issuedto A. E. Hansen on March 25, 1958.

Conventional choker hooks of the type disclosed in the Hansen patenthave gained widespread use in the logging industry due to increaseutilization of wood, and particularly the need for utilizing timberwhich is relatively inexcessible. Accordingly, the practice of usingcables in order to lower such inexcessible timber down the sides ofhills or mountains or the like has arisen. The aforementioned chokerhooks are used in conjunction with such lowering cables in order toreeve the cables, or form slip loops within which a log or logs can beheld for dragging or lowering of the logs.

However, a recognized deficiency in the use of such conventional chokerhooks as disclosed in the Hansen patent is that the slip loops formedthereby do not provide a tight fit about the logs, and consequently, indownhill logging many logs are lost out of the slip loops due to thefact that the logs slide or roll downhill faster than the logging winchcan reel in the slack in the cable.

When slack occurs in the cable, the cable will feed back through thechoker bell thus allowing the slip loop to loosen, thereby allowing thelog to slide out of the loop. This deficiency in conventional chokerhooks has necessitated the use of additional labor inasmuch as when aslip loop becomes loosened, a worker must be sent out to re-choke thelog by retightening the slip loop. In extreme cases, the loosening ofslip loops due to various reasons has necessitated as much as a 50%increase in labor time during a logging operation.

Accordingly, the present invention has been devised in order toeliminate such slipping of the cable through the choker bell in order toobviate the aforementioned objections to conventional choker hooks.Briefly, this invention consists of a choker bell and a ferrule, theferrule being mounted on the end of a logging cable and being adapted tobe seated in the choker bell in generally conventional fashion. However,various means have been devised by this invention to eliminate theslipping of the cable through the reeve way provided in the choker bell,the means including a sleeve mounted on the ferrule, a sleeve in thechoker bell through which the cable extends and a pivotal arm in thechoker bell, all of the above means being adapted for frictionalengagement with the cable in order to prevent slippage thereof throughthe reeveway.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel improvedchoker construction including means for preventing objectionableslippage of the slip loop conventionally formed by choker hooks for usein conjunction with logging cables.

It is another object of the present invention to provide various meansuseful in conjunction with choker hooks for frictionally engaging alogging cable reeved through the choker bell in order to preventslippage of the logging cable therethrough.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a noveland improved choker hook device for use with logging cables which may befabricated of readily available and inexpensive material in order toprovide various means for preventing slippage of a logging cable throughthe choker bell.

It is another object of the present invention to provide threeembodiments of improved choker hook construction which prevent slippageof a choker cable which is conventionally reeved through the chokerbell.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a. log having a logging cable reevedthereabout, including the improved choker hook device of the presentinvention in place thereon;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the choker hook deviceillustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially in the planeof the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view similar to that of FIGURE 1 illustratingthe choker bell and ferrule of the choker hook illustrated in FIGURE 1in disengaged relationship;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the ferrule illustrated inFIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view, partly broken away, of a modifiedembodiment of choker hook;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the planeof the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the annular sleeve illustrated inFIGURES 6 and 7;

FIGURE 9 is a front elevational view similar to that of FIGURE 6 of astill further modified embodiment of the choker hook comprising thepresent invention;

FIGURE 10 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the planeof the line 10-10 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a partial sectional view similar to that of FIGURE 10illustrating the operating parts of the choker bell in an inoperativeposition; and

FIGURE 12 is a partial elevational view, partially in section, of thelug end of the ferrule illustrated in FIG- URE 10.

Referring now to the drawings with more particularity, and specificallyto FIGURES l5, reference numeral 10 generally denotes the choker hookcomprising a first combination of the present invention. The choker hook10 is constructed as a one-piece, metal casing body member or chokerbell 12 of conventional exterior shape and material, the choker bell 12including back wall 14, front wall 16 and similar side walls 18. Thebody member 12 further includes a ferrule receiving chamber 20 therein,the chamber 20 opening to the exterior of body member 12 by thedownwardly directed opening 22 and frontly directed elongated opening24. A reeveway 28 is provided through the side walls 18 and chamber 20,the reeveway 28 including openings 29 in side walls 18 and adapted toaccommodate a logging or choker cable 30 therethrough in order toprovide a slip loop arrangement as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The cable 30 has mounted on an end 32 thereof a ferrule generallydenoted by reference numeral 34, the ferrule 34 being adapted to bereceived within the ferrule receiving chamber 20 in order to completethe slip loop illustrated in FIGURE 1. Thus, a log 36 or several logsmay be accompanied within the loop provided by the cable 30 inconjunction with the choker hook and ferrule.

The ferrule 34 comprises a generally cylindrical member 36 of metallicmaterial such as iron or steel, the body member 36 including a cablereceiving chamber 38 therein in which the end 32 of cable 30 is seated,as for example by being forced to fit therein. Of course, it will beappreciated that the cable 30 is first threaded through the open ing 22in body member 12 before the ferrule 34 is mounted thereon, inasmuch asthe ferrule 34 is of larger diameter than the opening 22. The ferrule 34further includes an upwardly projecting lug portion 40 of smallerdiameter than the body member 36, the lug 40 including a coarse exteriorthreaded surface 42 thereon. An annular cylindrical rubber sleeve 44 ismounted on the lug 4t and retained thereon in part by the coarsethreaded exterior portion 42. The sleeve 44 is preferably ofsubstantially flexible rubber material reinforced by fiber or steel wirefor added strength, the sleeve extending outwardly past the upper end oflug 40. The sleeve 44 is further held on the lug 40 by retaining pin 46which extends through an opening in the lug as Well as through thesleeve 44. The sleeve 44 is open at the upper end 48, which end extendspast the upper end of lug 40, this upper end portion of sleeve 44 thusbeing flexible. Further, as will be best observed in FIGURE 3, thebottom end of sleeve 44 is seated against a shoulder 50 formed in bodymember 36 by the reduced diameter of lug 4d.

The ferrule receiving chamber 20 includes a socket-like recess 52therein, which recess generally conforms to the shape of the bottom offerrule 34 and which is adapted to receive the bottom portion of ferrule34 therein as illustrated in FIGURE 3. The frontly directed opening 24in body member 12 includes an upper slot extension 54 through which thesleeve 44 and lug 40 may be moved in order to seat the ferrule 34 insocket recess 52. Also, as Will be apparent, this slot portion 54 willallow the ferrule 34 to be removed from the chamber 20 through theopening 24 by a twisting forward movement thereof. Further, the chamber20 includes an upper portion 56 adjacent the top wall 58 of body 12through which the cable 30 extends, this portion 56 comprising a portionof the aforementioned reeveway 28.

The over-all length of ferrule 34, including the sleeve 44 on lug 40, issomewhat greater than the distance from the bottom of socket recess 52to the bottom of a cable portion 30 positioned in chamber portion 56.Thus, it it will be readily apparent that slip loop illustrated inFIGURE 1 may be tightened down against a log such as log 36 with theferrule 34 unseated in recess 20, at which time the ferrule 34 may betwisted in order to move into chamber 20, the sleeve 44 passing throughthe slot 54 until the upper flexible portion of the sleeve contactscable 30. At this time, the ferrule 34 may be forced into the chamber 20until the bottom portion of the ferrule is seated in socket recess 52,at which time it will be readily apparent from viewing FIGURES 2 and 3that the upper flexible portion of sleeve 44 will be in frictionalengagement with the cable 30, thus comprising a releasable frictionalengagement means for retaining the cable 30 in place in the choker hook10. Thus, if slack were presented in the portion of cable 30 outwardlyof the slip loop, the cable 30 would not slide through reeveway 28 dueto the frictional engagement thereby providing a major improvement overprior art devices of this general type.

Referring now to FIGURES 6-8, a second preferred embodiment of thechoker hook and ferrule is illustrated. In this embodiment of theinvention the choker hook 10 is substantially similar to the choker hookdescribed in relation to the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1-5above. The choker hook 10 includes a choker bell 12 having the ferrulereceiving chamber therein, the chamber including an upper portion 56adjacent the top wall .58 of choker hook body member 12. An annularcylindrical sleeve member 60, preferably of rubber material reinforcedby fabric or steel wire or the like is positioned in the chamber portion56, the sleeve 60 being retained in a recess 62 in top wall 58. Thesleeve 60 is thus positioned in the reeveway 28 and the cable 30 willextend through the cavity 64 in sleeve 60. The sleeve 60 is relativelyflexible due to the nature of the material of which it is fabricated,and has a normal inner diameter which is greater than the outer diameterof the cable 30. The ferrule 34 in this embodiment of the invention issubstantially similar to that disclosed in relation to the embodiment ofFIGURES 1-5, and includes the generally cylindrical body portion 36which is mounted on the end 32 of cable 30. The ferrule 34 in thisembodiment of the invention, includes a lug portion 66 which issubstantially similar to lug 40 described above, however, the sleeve 44is eliminated, and the lug 66 is made somewhat longer than lug 40, beingof the some length as sleeve 44. Further, the lug 66 includes adome-shaped top portion 68 on the upper end thereof. Thus, it will beobserved in FIGURES 6 and 7 that as the ferrule 34 is seated in socketrecess 52 of chamber 29, the dome 68 of lug 66 will engage sleeve 6tforcing it upwardly into frictional engagement with the cable 30, thusreleasably retaining the cable 30 in the choker bell. Of course, itshould be appreciated that in this embodiment of the invention as wellas in the embodiment described above, it is necessary to have arubberlike member in frictional engagement with the cable 30 rather thana direct metal on metal engagement, inasmuch as such prevents excessivewear to the cable.

Referring now to FIGURES 9l2, a third preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated. In this embodiment of the invention a chokerbell 12 similar to the choker bells of the above two embodiments isprovided with a swingable arm 79, mounted on a pin 72 which extendsacross the slot portion 54 of frontly directed opening 24. The arm ispreferably of a rubber type, fiber or steel wire rein-forced materialand is normally positioned as illustrated in FIGURE 11 inasmuch as theupper portion 74 thereof will contact the top wall 58 of choker bel'l 12to limit the downward swing of the arm 7d. The choker bell 12 is alsoprovided with the reeveway 28 similar to the reeveways described inrelation to the embodiments of FIGURE 15 and 6-8 above. The cable 30extends through reeveway 28 as illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10.

The ferrule 34 used with this embodiment of the invention is identicalto the ferrule of the embodiment of FIG- URES 6-8, including the bodyportion 36 mounted on the end of cable 36, the lug 66 and thedome-shaped top portion 68 on lug 66. Thus it will be observed in FIG-URES 9 and 10 that the ferrule 34 may be twisted into seating engagementin the socket recess 52 choker bell 12 at which time the arm 70 will beswung inwardly into the upper chamber portion 56, the dome top 68 of lug66, when in its vertical position compressing the arm 70 as illustratedat '76 at which time the arm 70 frictionally engages the cable portionextending through reeveway 28. Of course, when the ferrule 34 is swungout of ferrule receiving chamber 26 the arm 70 will swing down to theposition illustrated in FIGURE 11, at which time the cable is releasedfrom frictional engagement with the arm 70. Thus, it will be apparentthat this embodiment of the invention also provides a rubber-type memberwhich is biased into frictional engagement with the cable reeved throughthe choker hook in order to frictionally retain the cable in the chokerhook in order to form a non-slip loop for retaining a log duringdownhill traversal logging operations.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

I. A log retaining device comprising in combination, a cable, a ferrulemounted on an end of said cable, a choker bell, said choker bellcomprising a unitary body member having a ferrule receiving chambertherein, the chamber opening to the front and bottom of said body(member, said ferrule adapted to be seated in said chamher, reevewaymeans in said body member for receiving a portion of said cabletransversely therethrough, and resilient means for frictionallyretaining said cable in said reeveway means and being urged into contactwith said cable by said ferrule when said ferrule is seated in saidchamber.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said ferrule comprises a generallycylindrical body adapted to be mounted on one end of said cable, aportion of said cable adapted to be seated in said cable receivingreeve-Way means, the end of said ferrule opposite said one end includingmeans for frictionally engaging said cable when said ferrule is seatedin said ferrule receiving chamber.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said cylindrical ferrule includeslug means thereon at the end thereof opposite said one end, flexiblesleeve means on said lug means, said sleeve means extending past the endof said lug means and adapted to frictionally engage said cable whensaid ferrule is moved in said ferrule receiving chamber.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprisesmeans mounted in said reeveway means for engaging said calble, saidferrule comprising a generally cylindrical member having a cablereceiving chamber opening at one end thereof, an end portion of saidcable adapted to be seated in said cable receiving chamber, the end ofsaid ferrule opposite said one end having lug means thereon, said lurgmeans being adapted to engage said engaging means for forcing saidengaging means into tight frictional engagement wit-h the cable portionextending through said reeveway means.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said engaging means comprises acylindrical rubber sleeve mounted in said reeveway means, said sleevehaving a longitudinally extending chamber therethrou'gh, the diameter ofsaid choker being of greater diameter than said cable, said lug meansengaging the outer surface of said sleeve and forcing the inner surfacethereof into tight frictional engagement with said cable when saidferrule is seated in said ferrule receiving chamber.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said engaging means comprises anarm rotatably mounted on said unitary body member and adapted forpivotal movement into said reeveway means, said lug means pivotal-1yswinging said arm into tight frictional engagement with said cable whensaid ferrule is seated in said ferrule receiving chamber.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,828,156 3/ 1958Hansen 294-74 2,867,026 1/1959 Gale. 3,139,863 7/1964 Steinbach 24-123BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner.

1. A LOG RETAINING DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A CABLE, A FERRULEMOUNTED ON AN END OF SAID CABLE, A CHOKER BELL, SAID CHOKER BELLCOMPRISING A UNITARY BODY MEMBER HAVING A FERRULE RECEIVING CHAMBERTHEREIN, THE CHAMBER OPENING TO THE FRONT AND BOTTOM OF SAID BODYMEMBER, SAID FERRULE ADAPTED TO BE SEATED IN SAID CHAMBER, REEVEWAYMEANS IN SAID BODY MEMBER FOR RECEIVING A PORTION OF SAID CABLETRANSVERSELY THERETHROUGH, AND RESILIENT MEANS FOR FRICTIONALLYRETAINING SAID CABLE IN SAID REEVEWAY MEANS AND BEING URGED INTO CONTACTWITH SAID CABLE BY SAID FERRULE WHEN SAID FERRULE IS SEATED IN SAIDCHAMBER.